Page 40 of Shadow Kissed
“I’m not wearing a dress,” I announce. “I don’t wear dresses. They aren’t practical.” I fold my arms across my chest, showingthat I won’t be persuaded on the matter. “My outfit for the day is sorted!” I announce, grabbing my bag and pulling out a pair of my trusty black trousers, a shirt and a bodice.
She raises her eyes heavenward as she stares at my clothes. “Mistress Moryen will not approve of that look.”
“Well, she’ll just have to get used to it, because this is who I am and I’m not about to change.”
Orna bobs her head, deciding not to argue with me. “Have it your way. Will you at least let me style your hair?”
I open my mouth to refuse, and she holds her hands together in a plea. “If the mistress thinks I’m not attending to you properly, then I may have my pay docked.”
I blink in surprise. “Seriously?” She nods. “Okay, you can do my hair, but it needs to be practical, and I don’t want any ridiculous bows or ribbons.”
Thirty minutes later, Orna escorts me to the dining room. I would easily get lost in this place without her guiding me. I wouldn’t like to guess how many rooms there are in this vast mansion. She holds the door open for me and releases a sigh as she takes one last look at me.
“Good luck,” she says before scurrying off to do whatever it is she does when she’s not looking after me. I walk into the room where Moryen is sitting at the head of the table. To her left is a petite auburn-haired girl with wide eyes and rosy cheeks.
“Oh, you’re here! This is so exciting!” The girl jumps to her feet and claps her hands together. Rushing round to where I’m standing. I jerk when she attacks me, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so happy you’re here. It can get quite lonely.” She steps back and smiles up at me. She’s tiny, probably only around five-foot-two at best. “I’m Saveya. Shadow Kissed, of course!” Shegestures to her eyes, and she leans in, studying me closer. “Your eyes are darker than mine. How interesting.”
“Saveya, you haven’t come up for air,” Moryen says from her seat, looking over the top of the large ancient looking book she is reading. “What have I told you about letting your excitement get the better of you? It isn’t becoming of a lady. Sit, both of you.”
Saveya grins at me and winks before she rushes back around to take her seat. I cast my eyes around the room as I take the seat opposite. Ash black wood panelling covers the walls, and an intricate scene of two winged, God-like men, engaged in battle adorns the ceiling. The large dining table dominates the room and could hold at a guess around thirty diners. With just the three of us here, it looks a little empty. A young, Asen girl rushes into the room carrying a tray. She deposits some fresh braeberry juice in front of me then places a plate full of food in front of me.
“I normally just have some oats in the morning.”
Moryen addresses me without looking my way. “Well, here you will eat what we give you.”
I frown, looking down at the food on my plate. Are they fattening us up for their men? Perhaps they have a preference for women with ample curves?
“Eretreya, Moryen tells me you are from Terleigh. It was awful to learn about the attack.” Saveya winces. “It must have been terrifying?”
“We don’t discuss such things at the dining table, Saveya,” Moryen chastises her before I even have a chance to reply, and I offer her a smile of sympathy from across the table.
“I’ll take you for a tour after breakfast. What would you like to see first? The ballroom? Ooh, or perhaps the orangery, or the gardens?” she asks me enthusiastically as she bites into a large piece of bread.
“I’d like to see the training facilities first,” I announce, and this has Moryen putting down her book.
“The training facilities? Do you mean the classrooms?” Saveya asks me, crinkling her brow in confusion.
I laugh. “No, the training rings. Where we train in combat.”
Saveya almost chokes on the food in her mouth. “Oh, they don’t let us go near the soldiers’ facilities. It’s forbidden.”
“Forbidden?” I repeat, hoping I have heard her wrong.
“Forbidden,” Moryen repeats, studying me like I am a bug she’d like to squash. “We don’t allow our females to mix with the soldiers. We can’t have any unwanted breeding taking place. Your role here is to learn about the cultures and traditions of the Shadow Realm and to learn how to behave like a lady.”
I snicker, and this has her glaring at me harder. “If we’re so unsavoury and need refinery lessons, then why bother with us?”
Saveya sputters out her drink and winces, glancing between me and Moryen.
“We bother with you,” Moryen replies, glaring coldly at me, “because we have no choice if we want to survive as a species.”
“She’s gone very pale,” I hear Saveya say as I lose my shit in my head. “Do you think she’s going to pass out?” she asks Moryen, glancing anxiously over at me.
“We’re nothing but brood mares,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. This has Moryen glaring deeper at me.
“You are a precious gift to our people. I will hear no more of this. Finish your food and then Saveya will show you the mansion and gardens. Just to reiterate, the soldier barracks are out of bounds to all Shadow Kissed females, Miss Lockwood.”
I don’t miss the look in her eyes that warns that I will not like the consequences if I break her rules and I finish the rest of my meal in silence.